Imbibing to Music

(A short sabbatical is in order - So, for the next few weeks, we'll take a look back at some older posts: This one is from 2012 about the affects of music on wine drinking.)

 

Music is said to have charms to sooth a savage breast, but did you know it could also influence what wine you buy?  And, it can also affect how that wine tastes to you, depending on what type of music is playing.

Numerous studies in the past twenty years have indicated that music and wine are closely linked, and that music can heavily influence a person’s decision about which wine to buy.  Wine, it seems, echoes our surroundings and our feelings.  This may be part of the reason that professional wine judging events are held in silence; to give the judges a chance to “hear” the wine and interact with it.

A study on the type of music played in grocery stores and how that influenced  what wines were purchased was administered by Adrian North and colleagues in 1997 at Leicester University.  Nearly 80% of shoppers in the study purchased the type of wine that corresponded to the kind of music playing in the background; When French accordion music was playing, 77% of wines purchased were French.   When traditional German music (Oomph music) was heard, 73% of the wine sold was German. But when 44 of the store customers were asked if they believed the music had affected their choice, only one person said yes.

The results of this study suggested that you would be 3 to 4 times more likely to purchase a wine that matched the music playing in the store as a wine that did not match it.

Stores and restaurants have known for quite some time that playing classical music will influence shoppers to purchase more expensive wines, and to spend longer in their establishments, thereby purchasing more wines and food.

The pace of the music can also influence how quickly and how much you drink.  Reports have shown that when faster, upbeat music is played, restaurant and bar patrons drink more alcohol, wine and beer.  But when slow, mournful music is heard, drinking slows, sales decrease, and the restaurant or bar gets (depressingly)quiet.

The rationale for this music-wine connection says that playing happy music with a happy wine, (Chardonnay or Muscato) will open it up more, making it more enjoyable. Chardonnay may be perceived as being confident and fresh when paired with pop music. 

A darker, moodier wine (think Cabernet or Syrah,) paired with low, brooding music will make both seem darker and morose.

Simply put, music can change our perception of the taste of the wine.  If the music and the wine have the same basic feel or values, they will pair well together and compliment each other’s vibe.

That means  music may help the wine seem even smoother or fruitier when paired with certain songs.  If paired poorly, the wine may test harsh or astringent.

Clark Smith, winemaker at Diamond Ridge Vineyards, has been testing these theories and drawing some interesting conclusions. According to Smith, “Red wines need either minor key or they need music that has negative emotion. They don't like happy music. With expensive reds, don't play music that makes you giggle. Pinots like sexy music. Cabernets like angry music. It's very hard to find a piece of music that's good for both Pinot and Cabernet.” “Red wines need either minor key or they need music that has negative emotion. They don't like happy music. With expensive reds, don't play music that makes you giggle. Pinots like sexy music. Cabernets like angry music. It's very hard to find a piece of music that's good for both Pinot and Cabernet.”

Adrian North (of the grocery–music study mentioned above) has also done a scientific study into the  wine-music correlation at of Heriot Watt University in England.   His latest research shows that background music influenced the taste of the wine by up to 60%.  Of 250 students studied, the results showed that the music did effect the drinker’s perception of the wine on a consistent basis.  Again, Cabernet lends its self to moody, heavy “powerful and heavy” music and a Chard responds better to “zingy and refreshing” songs.

North’s study offers four types of music, a song suggestion and the wine to pair it with.  Here are just a few examples:

Wine                           Type of Music             Song & Artist                          

Cabernet                  Powerful & Heavy     Won’t Get Fooled Again-Who

                                              

                                         

Syrah                       Subtle & Refined         Canon –Pachelbel                 

                                                          

Merlot                      Mellow & Soft           Over the Rainbow – Eva Cassidy        

                                                           

Chardonnay             Zingy & Refreshing         Atomic – Blondie

                              

Want to try it yourself? Clark Smith offers a one-hour recorded seminar called Mysterious Resonances. “By utilizing brain scan technologies that enhance our understanding of music, Smith demonstrates how harmony in wine and music are linked”. The cost is $9.99  and the seminar is available at http://store.payloadz.com/details/972771-video-educational-mysterious-resonances-pairing-wine-and-music.html

The wine-music connection is intriguing.  It may someday encourage winemakers to recommend music selections on their wine labels to pair with their wines - A sort of balance in harmony.  Wine and music, just another way to enjoy!

~ Joy

Songs in the Key of Wine (Part 1)

 

I never realized how many songs there were that referenced wine, until I started research for this blog post.  There are songs about wine in general, songs that mention wine in passing, songs with wine in the title, songs that are all about wine, songs where certain wines are mentioned by name, and songs about just drinking wine.

Then you can break it down even further by genre! There are wine songs done in Country, Rock, Jazz, Hip Hop, Rap, Pop Big Band, Instrumental, Broadway, and Sweet styles.

So let’s put a different spin on this bottle and take a look at a few vintage wine songs from the past century – by decade. Today, 1900 – 1959.

1900 – 1919

Cylinder Phonograph

Released between 1904 and 1908, Wine, Women and Song was written by W. H. Welder. The song was performed by the Columbia Band and released on a wax cylinder by the Columbia Phonograph Company in 1908.  I could not find a recording of the music available to listen to.

Eddie Cantor

In 1919, singer Eddie Cantor released You Don't Need the Wine to Have a Wonderful Time, a comic character song from the Ziegfeld Follies. The song went to number 3 on the Billboard charts on February 3, 1920 and stayed there for 7 weeks.

You don’t need the wine to have a wonderful time

While they still make a beautiful girl.

Adam and Eve never tasted Champagne

Still they were able to go out and raise Cain.

Click below to listen to You Don't Need the Wine to Have a Wonderful Time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLM4WBOiTaA

1920 – 1929

From 1920 to 1933, Prohibition was in effect and often the lyrics to popular songs were changed to espouse the evils of alcohol while set to the melodies of popular songs.

In the 1920’s the song Confession seemed to sum up what some thought of the independent Flapper and her decade.

Written by Howard Dietz and Arthur Schwartz, the song has been recorded through the decades by such musical greats as Judy Holliday, Liza Minnelli and Maureen McGovern.

I never had a taste for wine.

Oh, isn't that a sin?

I never had a taste for wine

For wine can’t compare with gin.

Click below to listen to Confession.

http://youtu.be/xcf3yFK0Rs4

1930 - 1939

Although Prohibition ended in 1933, the Great Depression affected people’s moods and choices in music.  Radio was gaining in popularity.  Big bands and music programs reigned supreme on the airwaves.

Paul Whiteman Orchestra

In 1934, I Get a Kick out of You became popular when it was performed on Broadway in the Cole Porter musical, “Anything Goes”.  Written by Paul Whiteman, the bandleader of one of the most popular bands in the 1920s.  Whiteman wrote over a dozen songs, which became popular in the 1920’s and 30’s.  Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra performed I Get a Kick Out of You on the record release.

“I get no kick from Champagne,

Mere alcohol doesn’t thrill me at all,

So tell me, why should it be true?

That I get a kick out of you.

Click below to listen to I Get a Kick Out of You.

http://youtu.be/HFKdC3jMkE0

Lawrence Welk

Someone who did get a kick from Champagne was Lawrence Welk.  He began as a bandleader in the 1920’s and traveled the Midwest, before his band was hired as a station band for a local radio station in South Dakota.  In the 1930’s, Welk ‘s band specialized in dance tunes and Sweet music.

It was at a hotel in Pennsylvania that someone described the Lawrence Welk Orchestra as sounding “Light and bubbly, like Champagne.”  (It also didn’t hurt that the hotel was using a bubble machine on the dance floor.)

Bubbles in the Wine was number 22 on Your Hit Parade, and number 13 on the Billboard charts for 1939.  This is the song that later became the theme song for The Lawrence Welk Show, which ran from 1955 to 1982.

Click below to hear Bubbles in the Wine.

http://youtu.be/UA0Ysptf5l4

1940 – 1949

With the forties came the Second World War and mass distributed music.  Now it was possible for single songs and single recordings to be to distributed to the public.  And with the advancement of radio receivers, almost 97% of homes in the country now had a radio to tune in local music programs, or a Broadway performance.

Benny Goodman Swing Band

Listening to Sweet Music

The music of the Forties had a hopeful tone.  Songs promoted the war effort and the government’s goals, set to sentimental Sweet and Swinging Big Band music.

Anita O'Day

Stan Kenton Orchestra

 In 1944, the war was in full swing when Stan Kenton and his Orchestra released And Her Tears Flowed Like Wine.  Sang by Anita O’Day, the song was number 4 on the U.S. Billboard charts for 18 weeks. Lauren Bacall sang it in the movie, The Big Sleep, with Humphrey Bogart.

And her tears flowed like wine,

And her tears flowed like wine,

She’s a real sad tomato,

She’s a busted Valentine.

Click below to listen to And Her Tears Flowed Like Wine.

http://youtu.be/nQD7K7rYz7E

Al Dexter

Wine, Women, and Song made Number 1 on the Billboard Country Hits in September 1946 and remained there for five weeks. Recorded by Al Dexter and His Troopers in the Hillbilly style, the song stayed on the charts until the end of the year.

When they asked him where his money had gone,

All he could say was wine, women, and song.

Click below to listen to Wine, Women and Song.

http://youtu.be/m9N4Vj73rBo

Stick McGhee

In 1947, Stick McGhee recorded Drinkin’ Wine Spo-Dee-O-Dee, but do to some “choice” words in the song, it was not accepted by the public.  McGhee rerecorded it in 1949 and it became a hit on the Billboard R&B Charts.

It was so popular; it later re-recorded by Jerry Lee Louis, Johnny Burnett, and Lionel Hampton, just to name a few.

Drinkin’ wine spo-dee-o-dee,

Drinkin’ wine spo-dee-o-dee,

Drinkin’ wine spo-dee-o-dee,

Pass that bottle to me.

Click below to listen to Drinkin’ Wine Spo-Dee-O-Dee.

http://youtu.be/g0lmX06odhw

1950 – 1959

Floyd Dixon

It was June 1952 when Floyd Dixon released Wine, Wine, Wine.  It was performed in the style known as “Jump Blues” or up-tempo blues with horns featured prominently. This approach took a little of the Big Band style, mixed it with Blues, and it became the precursor to Rhythm & Blues, and Rock and Roll.

Give me wine, wine, wine

All the time, time, time,

Give me wine, wine, wine

All the time, time, time,

Cause when I drink it

Feel so dog-gone fine.

Click below to listen to Wine, Wine, Wine.

http://youtu.be/cukghYQSPpc

Jimmie Rodgers

Then in 1956, Jimmie Rodgers released Kisses Sweeter Than Wine, which went to number 3 on the U.S. Billboard charts.  A cross between Country and Pop styles, the song was originally written and performed by The Weavers in 1951.

Because she had kisses sweeter than wine
She had, mmm, mmm, kisses sweeter than wine
(Sweeter than wine)

Click below to listen to Kisses Sweeter Than Wine.

http://youtu.be/iulmZAz8XfY

The music of the latter half of the century turned the world around.  Next week, we’ll take a look at the changes that occurred in the music world, from the turbulent 60's through the new century, and beyond.

~  Joy